bàn: 半 - Half, Semi-, In the middle

• Keywords: bàn, 半, Chinese for half, half in Chinese, 一半, 半天, 半小时, learn Chinese, Chinese numbers, Chinese time, HSK 1
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 半 (bàn), the essential Chinese word for “half”. This comprehensive guide goes beyond a simple translation, exploring how 半 is used to tell time (like 两点半, 2:30), measure quantities (半个苹果, half an apple), and express concepts like giving up halfway. Perfect for HSK 1 beginners, this page provides practical examples, cultural insights, and common mistakes to avoid, helping you master one of the most fundamental characters in Mandarin.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): bàn
• Part of Speech: Numeral, Adverb
• HSK Level: HSK 1
• Concise Definition: Half of a whole; in the middle; semi- or partially.
• In a Nutshell: 半 (bàn) is the direct equivalent of “half” in English, but it's much more than just a number. It's a building block used constantly in daily life. You use it to split things, to tell time, to describe a duration, and even to talk about something being incomplete. Understanding how to place 半 correctly in a sentence is a key step towards sounding more natural in Chinese.

• 半: The character 半 is a pictogram. The ancient form is thought to depict a cow 牛 (niú) being split down the middle by a vertical line. This powerful image of an object being divided into two equal parts directly represents the concept of “half”.

While “half” might seem like a universal concept, its usage in Chinese idioms reveals important cultural values.

• Perseverance vs. Incompleteness: The famous idiom 半途而废 (bàntú'érfèi) literally means “to give up halfway down the road.” It carries a strong negative connotation, reflecting the cultural emphasis on perseverance (坚持, jiānchí) and the importance of finishing what you start. This contrasts with the more neutral Western phrase “to stop halfway,” as 半途而废 implies a moral or character failing.
• Six of One, Half a Dozen of the Other: The saying 半斤八两 (bàn jīn bā liǎng) translates to “half a jin equals eight liang.” In the old Chinese system of weights, one jin (斤) was equal to sixteen liang (两). Therefore, half a jin is precisely eight liang. This idiom is used to say that two things are essentially the same or equally matched, much like the English “six of one, half a dozen of the other.” It's a fantastic glimpse into traditional Chinese measurement systems.

半 is an incredibly common and versatile character. Here's how you'll encounter it daily:

• Telling Time (Points in Time): It's used to mean “thirty minutes past the hour.”
  • e.g., 两点半 (liǎng diǎn bàn) - 2:30
  • e.g., 十点半 (shí diǎn bàn) - 10:30
• Measuring Duration: This is where beginners often get confused.
  • To express “half an hour”: 半个小时 (bàn ge xiǎoshí)
  • To express “one and a half hours”: 一个半小时 (yī ge bàn xiǎoshí)
  • Notice the word order change! See “Nuances and Common Mistakes” below.
• Quantifying Objects:
  • 半 + Measure Word + Noun: 半杯水 (bàn bēi shuǐ) - half a cup of water
  • 一半 + Noun: 一半的钱 (yībàn de qián) - half of the money
• Figurative and Adverbial Use:
  • As a prefix for “semi-”: 半自动 (bànzìdòng) - semi-automatic; 半决赛 (bànjuésài) - semi-finals.
  • To mean “in the middle of”: 话说到一半 (huà shuō dào yī bàn) - in the middle of speaking.
  • In a common exaggeration: 半天 (bàntiān) - literally “half a day,” it's often used to mean “a very long time.”

• Example 1:
  • 现在是下午两点半。
  • Pinyin: Xiànzài shì xiàwǔ liǎng diǎn bàn.
  • English: It's 2:30 in the afternoon.
  • Analysis: This is the standard way to express “thirty minutes past the hour.” Note the use of 两 (liǎng) instead of 二 (èr) for “two o'clock.”
• Example 2:
  • 我每天学习汉语一个半小时。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ měitiān xuéxí Hànyǔ yī ge bàn xiǎoshí.
  • English: I study Chinese for one and a half hours every day.
  • Analysis: This sentence demonstrates the “Number + Measure Word + 半” structure for durations over one hour.
• Example 3:
  • 我们等了半天，他才来。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen děng le bàntiān, tā cái lái.
  • English: We waited for a long time, and only then did he arrive.
  • Analysis: Here, 半天 (bàntiān) doesn't literally mean half a day (12 hours). It's a common exaggeration meaning “a long time” or “for ages.”
• Example 4:
  • 请给我半杯水，谢谢。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng gěi wǒ bàn bēi shuǐ, xièxie.
  • English: Please give me half a cup of water, thank you.
  • Analysis: This shows the “半 + Measure Word + Noun” structure for quantifying objects.
• Example 5:
  • 这本书我只看了一半。
  • Pinyin: Zhè běn shū wǒ zhǐ kàn le yībàn.
  • English: I've only read half of this book.
  • Analysis: 一半 (yībàn) acts as a noun here, meaning “one half” of the total. It's often used after a verb.
• Example 6:
  • 做事不要半途而废。
  • Pinyin: Zuò shì bùyào bàntú'érfèi.
  • English: Don't give up halfway when you do things.
  • Analysis: A direct use of the cultural idiom discussed earlier. It’s a piece of advice encouraging perseverance.
• Example 7:
  • 这家商店的衣服正在打半价。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā shāngdiàn de yīfu zhèngzài dǎ bànjià.
  • English: The clothes at this store are currently half-price.
  • Analysis: 打半价 (dǎ bànjià) is a set phrase meaning “to sell at half price” or “50% off.”
• Example 8:
  • 我哥哥是我的同母异父的半个兄弟。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ gēge shì wǒ de tóng mǔ yì fù de bàn ge xiōngdì.
  • English: My older brother is my half-brother (same mother, different father).
  • Analysis: 半 can be used to describe family relationships, just like in English.
• Example 9:
  • 他累得半死不活的。
  • Pinyin: Tā lèi de bànsǐbùhuó de.
  • English: He was so tired he was half-dead.
  • Analysis: A vivid, slightly exaggerated description of extreme fatigue. 半死不活 means listless or lethargic.
• Example 10:
  • 他睡觉的时候眼睛总是半睁着。
  • Pinyin: Tā shuìjiào de shíhou yǎnjīng zǒngshì bàn zhēng zhe.
  • English: When he sleeps, his eyes are always half-open.
  • Analysis: Shows 半 used as an adverb to describe a partial action, modifying the verb “to open” (睁).
• Example 11:
  • 会议开到一半，他突然离开了。
  • Pinyin: Huìyì kāi dào yībàn, tā tūrán líkāi le.
  • English: Halfway through the meeting, he suddenly left.
  • Analysis: 到一半 (dào yībàn) is a common phrase meaning “to reach the halfway point” of an activity.

• The “Half Hour” vs. “Hour and a Half” Trap: This is the most common mistake for beginners.
  • Correct: 半个小时 (bàn ge xiǎoshí) - Half an hour. (半 comes first).
  • Correct: 一个半小时 (yī ge bàn xiǎoshí) - One and a half hours. (半 comes last).
  • Incorrect: ~~一个小时半~~ or ~~半一个小时~~. Remember the patterns: 半 + MW for “half a unit,” and Number + MW + 半 for “X and a half units.”
• `半` vs. `一半 (yībàn)`:
  • Use 半 directly before a measure word to modify a noun: 半杯水 (half a cup of water), 半张纸 (half a piece of paper).
  • Use 一半 (yībàn) more like a noun meaning “one half (of a whole)”: 他吃了一半的蛋糕 (He ate one-half of the cake). The students are half male, half female (学生一半是男的，一半是女的). Think of 一半 as “the half” and 半 as just “half.”
• Using `两 (liǎng)` instead of `二 (èr)`:
  • For time, always say 两点半 (liǎng diǎn bàn) for 2:30, never ~~二点半~~.
  • For duration, say 两个半小时 (liǎng ge bàn xiǎoshí) for 2.5 hours, never ~~二个半小时~~.

• 一半 (yībàn) - The noun form, “one half.” Used when talking about a half as a distinct portion.
• 中间 (zhōngjiān) - Middle, center. Conceptually related to being halfway through a space or object.
• 小时 (xiǎoshí) - Hour. A measure word frequently used with 半.
• 分钟 (fēnzhōng) - Minute. You might hear “三十分钟” (sānshí fēnzhōng) as a more formal alternative to 半小时.
• 半途而废 (bàntú'érfèi) - A very common idiom meaning “to give up halfway.”
• 半斤八两 (bàn jīn bā liǎng) - An idiom meaning two things are equally matched or “six of one, half a dozen of the other.”
• 大概 (dàgài) - Approximately, probably. This is a useful word to contrast with the precision of 半.
• 左右 (zuǒyòu) - Around, about. Used after a number to express approximation (e.g., 三点左右 - around 3 o'clock).